“Senior Safe Act” Encourages Reporting of Senior Investor Fraud

On May 22, 2018, the Senior Safe Act, authored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), passed in the House of Representatives as part of a bipartisan banking reform package after previously being passed by the Senate (67-31) in March. The Act seeks to curb financial exploitation of senior investors by establishing a safe harbor in which advisors and their firms can report abuses without fear of liability for violation of privacy laws.

The Act extends legal immunity to banks, credit unions, investment advisors, broker-dealers, insurance companies and insurance agencies for reporting suspected exploitation or fraud, provided that they have established controls and procedures that will help employees and advisors identify and report suspected abuses, and provided further that they make the report in good faith and with reasonable care.

The Act has been broadly endorsed by the securities industry and has received bipartisan support. Says FSI (Financial Services Institute) President and CEO, Dale Brown, “We applaud the House for taking a significant step toward the prevention of elder financial abuse by passing the Senior Safe Act… Financial advisors and financial firms are often the first to detect possible financial abuse, so it is critical that they have proper training to identify potential abuse as well as the ability to report it without fear of violating privacy laws.”

President Trump is expected to sign the Act into law as he tweeted that he would do so.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Ted Peters at [email protected].